Our digestive system works hard every day to break down the foods we eat into nutrients and waste for delivery to the appropriate areas. This important task is a lot easier with the support of a healthy, nutritious diet and regular exercise, something we all get plenty of, right? Well, maybe not.

Even if you do exercise often and enjoy a healthy diet, you may still be missing out on specific nutrients that support normal, healthy digestive functions. Many of the foods we eat today have reduced nutrient content, in addition to preservatives, additives, artificial flavors, colors, and a host of other unnatural chemicals that can tax your poor digestive system to its limit and beyond on a daily basis.

Think cumulatively and it’s no wonder digestive complaints are so prevalent these days. We’re just not doing a very good job taking care of our digestive systems.

The 7 Essentials ​

Guess what? There’s a supplement for that. Actually, lots of supplements including enzymes, probiotics, vitamins and other specialized nutrients that can help keep you healthy and your digestive system doing what it does best.

So what nutrients should you get from your diet and your digestive supplements to maintain healthy digestive function?

The Digestion Digest, Sign Up and Get Manage Digestive Issues Naturally booklet

Enzymes – As stated above, even if you’re eating a healthy diet you may still be missing out on important nutrients, one of the most important of which is digestive enzymes. While our body typically makes sufficient enzymes to digest the foods we eat, the additives, preservative and other compounds found in our foods can upset digestive balance, so quality digestive enzyme supplements are one of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain a good balance of digestive enzymes and normal digestive function.

Probiotics – Most of us don’t realize that our digestive system, specifically our intestinal tract, is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria called probiotics or probiotic organisms. Probiotics help prevent occasional digestive upsets, diarrhea, gas, bloating, and even constipation. They assist in the digestion of food. They also support healthy immune system function considering 80% of your immune system is located in your intestinal tract. A balance of good probiotic bacteria goes a long way in supporting your immune health. Probiotic supplements are a great way to support healthy digestive function.

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Vitamins – Vitamins are essential for all bodily functions, so it’s no surprise they’re needed to maintain a healthy digestive tract. B vitamins play a supporting role by virtue of their essential functions in the generation of energy from the foods we eat. Vitamin C is an important nutrient for all tissues, including those found in the digestive tract. Vitamin supplements also represent a concentrated source of essential nutrients in a form that is easy for your body to absorb and utilize.​

Minerals – There are a number of dietary minerals that are important for healthy, normal digestive function. Potassium and other electrolyte minerals are necessary for smooth muscle contraction and relaxation, which is how your intestines eliminate waste. Other minerals play important roles in digestion as well.

Herbs – Throughout history traditional herbalists have sworn by the digestive benefits of bitter herbs; basically any herb with a bitter, mouth-puckering flavor. They’re believed to stimulate production of various digestive secretions such as bile, which can help speed up digestion and keep things progressing smoothly and comfortably through the digestive tract. Gentian and dandelion are two bitter herbs that may help support normal digestion.

Aloe Vera – Aloe is a succulent plant that’s commonly used topically for skin discomfort. Aloe gel and juice are also believed to help soothe occasional digestive discomfort.

Fiber – The main role of fiber in the diet is to feed the bacteria in the gut, which keep the cells healthy through numerous mechanisms, including the production of butyrate, which fuels the cells of the intestinal lining. Fiber also stimulates peristalsis, keeping everything moving along. Surveys have shown that the fiber content of the American diet is typically about half of government recommended levels. Many people think of fiber exclusively as a bulking agent that adds volume to our feces, but this is only part of fiber’s overall benefit. The role of dietary fiber in digestion is to provide “food” for the commensal intestinal bacteria that maintain the health of the cells lining the GI tract. In addition, fiber helps the body to detoxify, by adhering to toxins that are secreted into the digestive tract by the liver, so they can be more easily eliminated. Dietary fiber comes in two different forms – soluble and insoluble fiber.​

1. Soluble fiber is fiber that can be dissolvedin water. Soluble fiber is easily fermented by the bacteria in your intestinal tract. By forming a gel-like substance in the presence of water, it slows fecal transit time and allows for better absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste. It also helps to balance your glucose levels by slowing carbohydrate absorption during digestion, and can favorably affect the amount of cholesterol absorbed.​

2. Insoluble fiber is typically indigestible and does not dissolve down in water. It passes through the colon intact, providing bulking action that absorbs water and eases elimination. There are some forms of insoluble fiber that serve as prebiotics (food for beneficial probiotic organisms).​

Main Sources: Meds From Nature and Now Foods

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